WGCA Premier Division match of the round

By David Nagel
THE quality of West Gippsland Cricket Premier Division was encapsulated on Saturday by a classic encounter between a relieved Tooradin (5/278cc) and a brave but unfulfilled Upper Beaconsfield (266).
In a game that had massive consequences for both teams, Tooradin had the runs on the board and it was going to take something special from the Maroons to get across the line, and they got it early!
Last round century maker Shawn Flegler (30) and the consistent Daniel Brennan (70) have been the main stays of the Maroons batting all season and the two opened up for a 56-run partnership.
Flegler was first to go, a huge relief for Seagulls’ skipper Aaron Avery after the carnage caused by the left hander in round seven.
Avery’s joy soon turned to anxiety as the Maroons’ leading run-getter from last season, John Simpson (47), joined Brennan and the two built a long and fruitful union.
Brennan passed his half century and then 300 runs for the season as the Maroons were in cruise control at 1/148.
Seagulls’ bowlers Steve Hamill (5/70) and Craig Dicks (2/48) then started a courageous fight back by the home team.
Hamill removed Brennan, then Simpson, and combined with Dicks to rout the Maroons middle order.
The two took all seven wickets to fall in a devastating spell that saw Upper Beaconsfield lose 7/54 and spiral out of control to 8/202.
All momentum was with the home side and someone from the Maroons’ lower order needed to put their hand up for a fight.
Enter Tommy Tyrell (54 not out) and Xavier Gargan (23).
Nothing has come easy for Tooradin this season and Avery must have been pulling his hair out as the two Maroons looked like guiding their team to victory. Tyrell and Gargan put on 64 runs for the ninth wicket, taking the Maroons to 8/266, before disaster struck the duo.
A Brenton Adams return to Tom Hussey left Gargan short of his ground.
Crunch time! Thirteen runs to win for the Maroons and a two-game buffer over the Seagulls, one wicket to get for Tooradin to draw level on points heading into the New Year. More than five overs remained.
Avery took on the responsibility for his team and knocked over Paul Matthews’ castle to give the Seagulls a memorable and team-lifting victory. Tyrell was left stranded after making a brilliant half century and his Christmas dinner will no doubt leave a bitter-sweet taste.
Fifth placed Tooradin have looked like slipping off the pace more than once this season but have somehow managed to stay firmly in the hunt for a top-four spot. Third placed Upper Beaconsfield now face back-to-back encounters against runaway leaders Kooweerup and Cardinia.